Music Rising

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Music Rising logo

Music Rising is a charity co-founded by Producer Bob Ezrin and Gibson CEO Henry Juszkiewicz, with much support from U2's The Edge, to help in the purchasing of new instruments for the musicians of New Orleans affected by Hurricane Katrina.

"Music Rising" was the subject of a feature documentary directed by Canadian Don Young and produced by Frantic Films of Winnipeg, Canada. It was the highest-rated documentary in Canada during September of 2006. The film told the story of U2's efforts to raise money for the Music Rising charity. Contributing to Don Young's film, were musicians The Edge, Dave Matthews, Dr. John, Willie Nelson, Arlo Guthrie, Wolfman Washington, Breeze Cayolle, Bruce Springsteen, and Bob Dylan. The broadcast of this documentary was delayed when the marketing division of U2 Inc. demanded changes which resulted in a considerable amount of world exclusive U2 scenes being removed from the film at the last moment. The missing scenes featured The Edge visiting some of the hardest-hit sections of New Orleans where he met with residents, jammed with street rappers, prayed with local pastors, and was deeply moved by what he saw. Under considerable pressure to change the film Young resigned but eventually re-joined the project to protect the final cut. The rare and valuable U2 footage has never been broadcast. In 2007 "Music Rising" won two television academy 'Accolade Awards' and was broadcast in 27 countries, including the United States, where it aired on both VH1 and the Sundance Channel.

It was announced in early September 2006 that Green Day would join U2 in the studio to record a cover version of the song "The Saints Are Coming" by The Skids to benefit Music Rising. To coincide with the recording, both bands performed a live version of the song during the NFL Monday Night Football Pregame show of the New Orleans Saints/Atlanta Falcons game on September 25, 2006. "The Saints Are Coming" was digitally released on October 31 and the single on November 6, 2006.